Hydrating Polymer Coated Proppants for Fracturing Fluids
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current oil well fracturing processes are inefficient due to the need for extensive equipment, manpower, and time-consuming mixing of chemicals, leading to uneven distribution and increased operational footprints, with risks of chemical spills and contamination.
Innovation Solution
A method and composition using a substrate with a binder to secure a hydrating polymer, which is mixed directly into drilling fluids, allowing for immediate absorption and distribution of proppants within the fracturing fluid, reducing mixing time and equipment needs, and enhancing the flow and homogeneity of the fluid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If chemicals are added to fracturing fluid, then proppant distribution is improved, but mixing time and equipment complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Chemicals are pre-coated onto proppant particles before injection into the fracturing fluid. This preliminary coating ensures immediate dissolution and uniform distribution upon contact with the fluid, eliminating the need for extensive mixing operations while achieving homogeneous proppant distribution throughout the formation.
2Reliability
If multiple chemicals are blended into fracturing fluid, then fracture treatment effectiveness is improved, but equipment footprint and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple chemical additives are combined with proppant particles in a single coating process, creating a composite proppant particle that delivers multiple fracture treatment functions simultaneously. This merging eliminates the need for separate blending equipment and reduces operational complexity while maintaining comprehensive fracture treatment effectiveness.
3Strength
If proppants are mixed into fracturing fluid, then fracture propping is improved, but energy consumption and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
Proppant particles are pre-coated with chemicals that dissolve immediately upon contact with fracturing fluid, enabling immediate fracture propping without requiring extensive mixing or energy-intensive processing. The preliminary coating ensures rapid dissolution and immediate mechanical support within the fracture.
4Manufacturing precision
If chemicals are added to fracturing fluid, then proppant distribution is improved, but risk of chemical spills and contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
Chemicals are extracted from the liquid fracturing fluid and transferred to solid proppant particles through coating. This extraction eliminates the need to transport and store large volumes of liquid chemicals, reducing spill risk and contamination hazards while maintaining uniform proppant distribution through the dissolved chemical coating.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly reduces time, energy, and costs associated with fracturing operations while ensuring even distribution of proppants, minimizing environmental risks, and maintaining operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a hydrating polymer bound to the substrate, which absorbs water in an amount greater than its weight
Data Source
AI summary
A method for improving the performance of fracturing processes in oil production fields may rely on polymer coated particles carried in the fracturing fluid. The particles may include heavy substrates, such as sand, ceramic sand, or the like coated with polymers selected to absorb water, increasing the area and volume to travel more readily with the flow of fluid without settling out, or allowing the substrate to settle out. Ultimately, the substrate may become lodged in the fissures formed by the pressure or hydraulic fracturing, resulting in propping open of the fissures for improved productivity.